New ways to make non-standard amino acid peptides for GPCR drugs
Official title: New catalytic strategies to make non-proteinogenic peptides
Funded at University of Kansas Lawrence · NIH-11332284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing new chemical methods to create peptide drugs with non-standard amino acids to better target GPCRs in people with HIV-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Lawrence NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrence, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $382,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147169-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with conditions influenced by GPCR peptide drugs and who could participate in potential future clinical translation or related research efforts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not using peptide GPCR therapies or not involved in GPCR-targeted drug development may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
GPCRs are a major class of drug targets, and many peptide medicines could be improved by adding non-proteinogenic amino acids. This project aims to develop general, scalable methods to incorporate unusual amino acids into peptides, improving drug-like properties and enabling broad exploration of peptide GPCR interactions. By creating diverse peptide libraries more efficiently, the work could accelerate the discovery of better therapies for conditions involving GPCRs and HIV-related biology. The approach focuses on synthetic chemistry advances that overcome current limitations in solid-phase synthesis and amino-acid incorporation. If successful, these methods could expand options for peptide-based medicines and guide future translational efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could make it easier to develop peptide drugs with improved stability and effectiveness for conditions involving GPCRs, potentially benefiting people with HIV-related health issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows promise in incorporating non-standard amino acids into peptides, with ongoing translation into some GPCR-targeted therapies, though general, scalable methods remain an active area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Lawrence
Lawrence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bloom, Steven — University of Kansas Lawrence
- Study coordinator: Bloom, Steven
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.